Voter turnout for primary almost doubles 2016

by CNYCentral

Dana Balter won more votes in Onondaga County alone than the total number of people who voted in the 2016 primary.

Dana Balter won by a landslide in the Democratic primary with 62% of the votes against Juanita Perez-Williams. She won more votes in Onondaga County alone than the total number of people who voted in the 2016 primary.

"This is impressive to see so many new people who haven't voted in the primary before coming to the polls and doubling our turnout from two years ago," Dustin Czarny said.

Dustin Czarny is the Democratic Commissioner of the Onondaga County Board of Elections. He said the 25 percent margin of victory is perhaps more surprising.

"I think the energy shown by the winner, Dana Balter, she got more votes in Onondaga county than that were cast two years ago," Czarny added.

Balter won 133 of the 177 polling places in the district.

"She won every town. She won the city of Syracuse overall. She won each of the four different counties," he said.

Now, the challenge is rolling the momentum into November when she challenges Republican Congressman John Katko.

The most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission shows Balter has just over $302,000 in contributions, while congressman Katko has raised more than $1.5 million, but these filings only include contributions made before June 6.

But, Balter pulled off a convincing primary win on an under-funded campaign.

"Even the most wide-eyed Balter supporters were thinking a close win. Showing the polls that came out were wrong, I mean that's a great story," Czarny said.

We'll see how the next chapter unfolds in November, and if Democrats will unite in support of Balter.

"People realize that local elections matter, and while the turnout for local elections is still pretty abysmal...they are going up," Czarny added.